IN: 97 percent smart city projects completed in Jammu, Srinagar
Only 7 works worth ₹140 crore underway; summer capital accounts for over half of total investment
Jammu and Kashmir has achieved near-complete implementation of projects sanctioned under the Centre’s flagship Smart Cities Mission, with over 97 per cent of works completed across Srinagar and Jammu, official data tabled in Parliament reveals.
According to the reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 199, as on January 15, 2026, a total of 288 projects worth ₹6,603 crore were taken up in Jammu and Kashmir under the Smart Cities Mission. Of these, 281 projects involving an expenditure of ₹6,464 crore have been completed, while only seven projects costing ₹140 crore remain ongoing.
Uzbekistan seals smart city deal with Pakistan’s Habib Rafiq
Uzbekistan and Pakistan’s Habib Rafiq Ltd. have signed a memorandum of cooperation on smart city development, modern infrastructure projects, and investment attraction, Trend reports via the Uzbek Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade.
The agreement was signed during a meeting between Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade, Laziz Kudratov, and Chief Executive Officer of Habib Rafiq Ltd., Malik Muhammad Aslam.
South Africa’s newest smart city is a massive mall surrounded by sugarcane and construction
The Westown Smart City development in Shongweni, KwaZulu-Natal, may look like just an enormous mall with construction underway around it. However, developers have made major strides in recent months.
Located just off the N3 highway in what used to be a sugarcane plantation, Westown is promised to be a mixed-use development that incorporates living, working, shopping, and play.
Transforming Urban Ecosystem: AI-Powered Smart Cities Redefining Mobility
Thanks to rapid advancements in IoT, edge computing, and artificial intelligence, the global smart city market is entering a transformative era. No longer confined to pilot programs, smart cities are emerging as a large scale reality, reshaping how people live, work, and move through urban environments. Analysts project the market for AI in smart cities to reach approximately USD 50.6 billion by 2025, expanding at a remarkable CAGR of nearly 28 percent to reach USD 460 billion. At the same time, the broader smart cities market, valued at USD 624 billion today, is expected to surge to USD 4.65 trillion by 2032 underscoring both the urgency and magnitude of this global shift.
This accelerated growth is not merely a product of technological enthusiasm but a direct response to mounting urbanization challenges. Traffic congestion, crumbling infrastructure, rising crime, public safety concerns, and escalating environmental pressures are straining existing city frameworks. Against this backdrop, AI powered solutions are stepping in to fill critical gaps, helping cities anticipate problems, respond to crises faster, and create more sustainable ecosystems.
IN: Odisha: Bhubaneswar e-toilets to be repaired after citizens highlight systemic failures
The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to take up an extensive repair and maintenance drive of the city’s modular e-toilets, after citizen reporters highlighted their systemic failures.
Once touted as a cornerstone of the smart city mission, many e-toilets have become non-functional, plagued by technical glitches and neglect.